Astrology Glossary

A

Aquarius

Innovative, independent, future-oriented, and revolutionary. Encourages individuality, progress, humanitarianism, and collective ideals. A fixed, water sign, ruled by Uranus.

Synonyms: The Water Bearer, The Rebel, The Visionary

Aries

Bold, pioneering, and action-oriented. Encourages the warrior's fighting spirit, initiative, willpower, action, courage, and independence. A cardinal, fire sign, ruled by Mars.

Synonyms: The Ram, The Warrior, The hero

Ascendant

This is the sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth. It falls on an angle and represents outward personality, first impressions, and approach to life. It can be the mask or persona we wear automatically, especially in first encounters with others and life.

Synonyms: Rising Sign, ASC, First House Cusp

Aspects

An aspect is the angular relationship between two planets or points in an astrology chart, measured in degrees and minutes. Aspects show how celestial and planetary energies interact with one another, whether through harmony, infusion, tension, or challenge. They are the language through which cosmic connection happens, and through which communication occurs, that will then be felt and played out in the functions of the planets and angles within a moment in time, including the birth chart.

Synonyms: Angles, Configurations, Planetary Relationship/Communication, Influences, Connections

B

Black Moon Lilith

A point in space symbolising raw feminine power, independence, and the shadow side of sexuality. It reveals where we have to be fearless in response to adversity, reject suppression and reclaim our primal, instinctual truth.

Synonyms: Lilith, Lunar Apogee, The Dark Moon, The Wild Feminine

C

Cancer

Nurturing, protective, instinctual, reflective, and sensitive. Values the home, family, comforts, sentimental possessions, and emotional security. A cardinal, water sign, ruled by the Moon.

Synonyms: The Crab, The Mother, The Nurturer

Capricorn

Wise, ambitious, disciplined, intuitive, and grounded. Values emotional and physical mastery, structure, responsibility, and having a metaphorical and literal mountain to climb. A cardinal, earth sign, ruled by Saturn.

Synonyms: The Sea-Goat, The Wise Elder, The Builder

Celestial Body

The Luminaries (Sun and Moon), Planets, Asteroids, and Stars. It is any natural and physical object in space beyond Earth’s atmosphere. In astrology, celestial bodies serve as symbolic archetypes that influence personality, cycles, and events, each carrying its own distinct energy and meaning.

Synonyms: Heavenly body, Astronomical object, Celestial object

Ceres

Represents nurturing, motherhood, attachment, un/conditional love, needs and urges, and cycles of loss and renewal. It reflects how we give and receive care, and themes of food, fertility, survival, and grief.

Synonyms: The Nurturer/Mother, Demeter, Goddess of Harvest & Agriculture

Chiron

An asteroid that represents areas of deep wounds, often from childhood, and the great potential for healing and wisdom that can be passed on to help and teach others.

Synonyms: The Wounded Healer, The Mentor/Teacher

Composite Chart

A composite chart is created by calculating the midpoints between two people’s natal placements, forming a single chart that represents the relationship itself. It reveals the shared purpose, dynamics, and energy of the partnership, rather than focusing on the individuals separately.

Synonyms: Combined Chart, Relationship Chart, Midpoint Chart

Conjunction

An aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies or points are very close together, typically within 10 degrees of each other. The closer they are, the stronger the influence. This alignment blends the energies of both planets, intensifying and merging their qualities in the area of life represented by the house and sign they occupy.

Synonyms: Alignment, Union, Merging, Fusion

D

Descendant

The sign on the western horizon point, opposite the Ascendant. It falls on an angle and represents partnerships, relationships, and how we meet others. It can reflect what we seek or admire in others.

Synonyms: DSC, 7th House Cusp

Detriment

Occurs when a planet is in the sign opposite the one it rules. In detriment, the planet’s energy feels less natural, often requiring more effort to express. This placement can create challenges but also invites growth through balance and awareness.

Synonyms: Exile, Challenged

Direct

When a planet moves forward through the zodiac from Earth’s perspective.

Synonyms: Forward Moving

E

Element

The four elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water describe the basic qualities of the zodiac signs and how energy is expressed. Fire is passionate and dynamic, Earth is practical and grounded, Air is mental and communicative, and Water is emotional and intuitive. Each element reveals a core style of being and responding to the world.

Eris

Represents discord, disruption, and the fight for inclusion and equality. It highlights where we may feel rejected and challenge exclusion, injustice, or power imbalances.

Synonyms: Discordia, The Goddess of Discord & Strife, Feminine Rage, The Exile

Eros

An asteroid that represents sexual desire, passion, attraction, and creative life force. It highlights where we seek deep intimacy and experience the transformative power of intimate connection.

Synonyms: Cupid, Primordial Force

Exaltation

Exaltation is a sign placement where a planet’s energy is elevated and expressed in a refined, effective way. Planets in exaltation are considered strong and beneficial, often bringing out their highest qualities.

Synonyms: Dignified, Elevated

F

Fall

Occurs when a planet is in the sign opposite its exaltation. Here, the planet struggles to express its energy fully or comfortably. While seen as a weaker placement, it can bring depth and humility, teaching lessons through challenge and refinement.

Synonyms: Debilitated

G

Gemini

Curious, adaptable, quick-witted, intellectual and communicative. Values learning, connection, engaging in thought, and variety. A mutable, air sign, ruled by Mercury.

Synonyms: The Twins, The Jester, The Communicator

Grand Trine

An aspect pattern with three planets forming a triangle of 120° aspects, creating harmony and natural flow.

Synonyms: Blessing, Talent

H

Houses

A house is a section of the chart that represents an important area of life. It's the terrain in which the signs and planets function and operate.

1st House: Self, identity, physical body, and how others perceive us.

2nd House: Finances, resources, values, and self-worth.

3rd House: Communication, siblings, learning, and local environment.

4th House: Home, family, ancestry, and emotional foundations.

5th House: Creativity, romance, hobbies, and children.

6th House: Servitude, routines, health, habits, and daily responsibilities.

7th House: Partnerships, marriage, and one-on-one relationships.

8th House: Transformation, intimacy, shared resources, and the occult.

9th House: Philosophy, travel, higher learning, and belief systems.

10th House: Career, reputation, mission, public life, and long-term goals.

11th House: Friendships, groups, communities, future visions, and aspirations.

12th House: Subconscious, spirituality, solitude, dissolution, and hidden matters.

Synonyms: Areas of life, the arena where a planet functions and is influenced by a sign

Hygeia

An asteroid that represents health, hygiene, and healing practices. It represents the pursuit of purity, balance, and preventative wellness, as well as attitudes toward illness and self-care.

Synonyms: The Medicine Woman, Goddess of Health

I

Imum Coeli

The lowest point in the chart. It is the angle that represents home, roots, family, ancestry and inner foundation. It symbolises where we have come from and how our childhood has influenced our internal world. It is the innermost, hidden part of ourselves.

Synonyms: IC, Nadir, 4th House Cusp, Bottom of the Sky

J

Juno

An asteroid that represents partnership, marriage, and commitment. It reflects how we bond in long-term relationships, what we seek in a partner, how we balance equality in unions, and our self-respect and integrity.

Synonyms: The Marriage Asteroid, Hera

Jupiter

A planet that symbolises expansion, wisdom, growth, higher learning, faith, and opportunity. It shows where we seek meaning and abundance.

Synonyms: The Great Benefic, The Teacher/Sage, Jove

K

Kite

An aspect pattern that takes the potential and harmony of a grand trine and gives it a “tail” or something to fly its potential with. Creating momentum, purpose, direction, and a point of growth or tension that drives action.

L

Leo

Creative, confident, expressive, and proud. Encourages heart-led leadership, generosity, play, inner-child connection, and self-expression. A fixed, fire sign, ruled by the Sun.

Synonyms: The Lion, The King, The Divine Child

Libra

Harmonious, relational, reflective, charismatic, and diplomatic. Encourages connection, balance, fairness, peace, beauty, and partnership. A cardinal, air sign, ruled by Venus.

Synonyms: The Scales, The Diplomat, The Lover

M

Mars

A planet that symbolises drive, action, willpower, assertion, and our sexual and physical energy. It shows how we pursue goals and express passion or anger.

Synonyms: The Warrior, The God of War, Ares, The Fighting Spirit

Mercury

A planet that symbolises communication, thinking, learning, and the exchange of information. It represents how we communicate, process, and share ideas.

Synonyms: Hermes, The Messenger, The Trickster, The Mind/Intellect

Midheaven

The highest point in the chart. It is the angle that represents our mission, legacy, career, public image, reputation and aspirations. It symbolises how we climb life's mountains.

Synonyms: MC, Medium Coeli, 10th House Cusp, The Highest Point, Middle of the Sky

Modality

The three modalities: Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable describe how zodiac signs operate and express their energy. Cardinal signs initiate and lead, Fixed signs stabilise and sustain, and Mutable signs adapt and change. Together, they make up a cycle of different stages.

Synonyms: Quality, Mode

Moon

A luminary that symbolises emotions, needs, intuition, and the inner world. It reflects our subconscious, instincts, and how we nurture and are nurtured.

Synonyms: Luna, Luminary, The Subconscious, Selene

Mystic Rectangle

An aspect pattern that holds both challenge (oppositions) and support (trines and sextiles) at once. It creates a dynamic where inner conflict can be worked through with balance, insight, and constructive outlets. A balance of tension and flow.

N

Neptune

A planet that symbolises dreams, spirituality, imagination, escapism, and illusions. It dissolves boundaries, transcends, and connects us to the mystical.

Synonyms: Poseidon, The Mystic, Higher Octave of Venus

North Node

A point in space symbolising karmic direction, growth, and soul purpose and evolution. It is the qualities we are meant to develop in order to grow in this lifetime.

Synonyms: Rahu, Soul's Purpose, Evolutionary Path, Dragon's Head, Karmic Direction

O

Opposition

An aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies or points are 180 degrees apart, standing directly across from each other. This aspect creates tug-of-war polarity, tension, and a need for balance. Oppositions often project qualities onto others, inviting growth through relationship, reflection, and integration.

Synonyms: Polarity, Opposing, Seesaw, Tug of War

Orb

An orb is the range of degrees within which an aspect is considered active or influential. For example, a conjunction is strongest at exactly 0° but may still be felt up to 10° or more apart. The tighter the orb, the more noticeable the aspect’s effect. Different astrologers allow different orb sizes depending on the aspect and planets involved.

Synonyms: Range of influence, Tight, Wide, Partile, Applying, Separating

P

Pallas Athena

An asteroid that represents wisdom, strategy, justice, and creative intelligence. It governs the fight for peace, problem-solving, intuition blended with logic, and the ability to see patterns and solutions.

Synonyms: Pallas, The Wise Warrior, The Activist

Part of Fortune

A point in space symbolising a place of natural flow, joy, success, and potential for fulfilment and ease. A 'balance' point, based on the sun, moon, and ascendant.

Synonyms: Lot of Fortune, Pars Fortuna

Pisces

Intuitive, compassionate, creative, and dreamy. Encourages spiritual connection, selflessness, and emotional and spiritual fluidity. A mutable, water sign, ruled by Neptune.

Synonyms: The Fish, The Dreamer, The Mystic

Pluto

A planet that symbolises transformation, power, hidden mysteries, the occult, death and rebirth cycles, and deep psychological processes. It shows where we face endings, control, and regeneration.

Synonyms: Hades, The Underworld, Lord of Transformation

Progression

A symbolic technique that moves the birth/natal chart forward to reveal inner development, evolution, and life cycles.

Synonyms: Secondary Progressions, Solar Arc Directions, Inner Evolution

Psyche

An asteroid that represents the soul, subconscious, intimate vulnerability, trust, and psychological growth. It highlights where we undergo deep, soulful self-discovery to form a more meaningful connection to ourselves and others.

Synonyms: Goddess of the Soul, Anima

Q

Quincunx

An aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies or points are 150 degrees apart. This aspect creates misalignment, discomfort, or a sense of two energies that struggle to relate. It calls for adjustment, compromise, or reframing to integrate the mismatch.

Synonyms: Inconjunct, Uncertainty, Misalignment

R

Retrograde

When a planet appears to move backward in the sky, symbolising review, reflection, and revision.

Synonyms: Backwards, Reflection, Review

Rulership

The relationship between a zodiac sign and the planet that governs it. This planet becomes a landlord or storyteller, influencing its energy and expression. This provides a deeper layer of interpretation in a birth chart.
Each planet rules over one or two zodiac signs, showing where its energy is strongest and most natural. For example, Venus rules both Taurus and Libra. When a planet is in its rulership sign, it functions with ease and clarity, fully expressing its qualities.

Synonyms: Domicile, Ruling Planet

S

Sagittarius

Adventurous, optimistic, and philosophical. Values a quest for knowledge, expansion, freedom, and truth-seeking. A mutable, fire sign, ruled by Jupiter.

Synonyms: The Archer, The Explorer, The Centaur

Saturn

A planet that symbolises structure, boundaries, discipline, responsibility, karma and limits. It teaches lessons through challenges, effort, and time.

Synonyms: Lord of Karma, Taskmaster, The Great Teacher, Cronus, The Wise Elder

Scorpio

Intense, transformative, perceptive, emotionally resourceful, and determined to understand. Values emotional security, depth, power, passion, and rebirth. A fixed, water sign, ruled by Pluto.

Synonyms: The Scorpion, The Alchemist, The Magician

Sedna

Represents betrayal, loss, survival, and reclaimed power. It highlights where we face deep wounds, surrender what cannot be controlled, and rise through resilience, truth, and inner strength.

Synonyms: Amphitrite, Salacia, The Sea Goddess, Empowered Feminine

Semi-Sextile

An aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies or points are 30 degrees apart. This minor aspect creates a subtly misaligned connection that requires conscious effort to notice. It brings opportunities for growth through small adjustments, often in everyday life.

Synonyms: Dodecile, Minor Inconjunct

Sextile

An aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies or points are approximately 60 degrees apart. This aspect creates a harmonious connection that encourages growth, cooperation, and opportunity. Sextiles indicate talents or potentials that become stronger when consciously developed.

Synonyms: Supportive, Opportunity, Compatible

South Node

A point in space symbolising past life mastery, ingrained patterns, comfort zones, and traits that feel familiar but may hold us back in our souls' evolutionary growth.

Synonyms: Ketu, The Dragon’s Tail, Comfort Zone, Karmic Baggage

Square

An aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies or points are 90 degrees apart. It represents friction, tension, and challenge. Though it may feel uncomfortable, a square pushes growth by requiring effort and action. Squares often show where personal development and resilience are forged.

Synonyms: Friction, Tension, Conflict, Challenge, Pressure

Stationary

When a planet appears to stand still before changing direction, intensifying its influence.

Synonyms: Stillness, Marination

Stellium

An aspect pattern with three or more planets clustered in a conjunction in the same sign or house, concentrating energy in that area of life.

Synonyms: Cluster, Concentration

Sun

A luminary that symbolises ego identity, vitality, life force, and core essence. It symbolises how we shine, create, and express ourselves in the world.

Synonyms: Sol, Luminary, Consciousness, The Ego, Apollo, Helios

Synastry

Synastry is the comparison of two natal charts to explore relationship dynamics. By looking at aspects between planets and placements, astrologers interpret how two people connect, challenge, learn from, and influence each other. It highlights compatibility, chemistry, and areas of growth in relationships.

Synonyms: Relationship, Compatibility

T

T-Square

An aspect pattern with two planets in opposition with a third planet squaring both, creating tension and drive.

Synonyms: Tension, Determination

Taurus

Grounded, sensual, reliable, and stable. Importance in values, self-worth, comfort, physical resources and security, perseverance, and engaging the senses. A fixed, earth sign, ruled by Venus.

Synonyms: The Bull, The Earth Mother, The Farmer/Builder

Transit

Occurs when a celestial body in the current sky moves into a specific position relative to the planets or points in your birth/natal chart. Transits mark periods of growth, challenge, and opportunity, reflecting external events and internal shifts. They bring the astrology chart to life by showing timing and cycles in real time.

Synonyms: Interaction, Trigger, Ongoing Planetary Movement, Cycles

Trine

An aspect that occurs when two celestial bodies or points are 120 degrees apart. This aspect flows easily, creating natural harmony between energies. Trines bring luck, ease, and talents that may feel innate. While supportive, trines can sometimes be taken for granted if not actively used.

Synonyms: Harmony, Talent, Flow, Ease

U

Uranus

A planet that symbolises change, innovation, freedom, liberation, and disruption. It breaks patterns and awakens individuality.

Synonyms: Sudden change, The Rebel/Revolutionary, The Awakener, Ouranos, Caelus, Higher Octave of Mercury

V

Venus

A planet that symbolises love, attraction, beauty, relationships, self-worth and values. It shows how we connect, what we desire, and what we find pleasurable and aesthetically pleasing.

Synonyms: The Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, Ishtar/Inanna

Vertex

Considered a fated or destined point, often activated in significant encounters and relationships.

Synonyms: The Point of Fate, Karmic

Vesta

An asteroid that represents devoted focus, sacred service, and a mission or cause. It represents where we find spiritual dedication, passion for purpose, and the tending of our inner flame.

Synonyms: Hestia, Vestal Virgin, The Sacred Flame

Virgo

Practical, discerning, purifying, analytical, organised and detail-oriented. Encourages being of service, improvement, refinement, and healing. A mutable, earth sign, ruled by Mercury.

Synonyms: The Virgin, The Maiden, The Healer

Y

Yod

An aspect pattern with two planets in sextile, pointing to a third by quincunx, a rare yet tense and challenging aspect pattern, bringing about fated challenges and karmic destiny.

Synonyms: Finger of God, Finger of Fate

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